Holiday sales up 3.5% for retailers

Researcher cites discounts’ draw

By LINDSEY RUPP AND COTTEN TIMBERLAKE BLOOMBERG NEWS

Posted: December 27, 2013 at 2:31 a.m.

U.S. retail sales rose 3.5 percent during the Christmas shopping season this year, helped by deep discounts at malls and purchases of children’s apparel and jewelry, MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse said Thursday.